Three Times – Superlatives!

In front of our house in the Philippines was a little shop with several unrelated items like coffee, dishwashing liquid, charcoals, toothbrushes, SIM cards, coke, etc. It was called the sari-sari shop meaning a shop with varieties of “this and that.” Similarly, the Philippines has a dessert called halo-halo, meaning “mix-mix” in Tagalog, as the dessert has several items, including sweetened beans, dried fruit, sweetened condensed milk, and ice cream. Just as the Tagalog speakers repeat words, the Hebrew speakers repeat words for emphasis. One classic example is holy, holy, holy, meaning “the holiest,” a superlative.

Joseph and Mariam took Jesus to the temple to present him before the high priest and offer the sacrifices demanded by the law of Moses. At that time,

“See, a man was in Jerusalem. His name was Simeon. He was a righteous and reverential man waiting for the comfort of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. He was instructed by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw the Anointed of the Lord. By the Spirit’s prompting, he was led to the temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus as required by the law concerning him, he took the child in his hands and blessed the Lord, saying, ‘Now, Master, release in peace your slave according to your word because my eyes have seen your salvation – which you have prepared before all the people: A light to enlighten the nations and a glory of the people of Israel.’” (Luke 2:25–32)

Simeon’s poem, verses 29–32, is called Nunc Dimittis, the first two words in the Latin Vulgate meaning “Now, you let depart.” The Holy Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die but serve God until the day he saw Israel’s salvation. He waited. By seeing the child, he knew he had seen the comfort of Israel. So, he asked God to release him; he was ready to die.

Trice meant superlative. Trice Luke told the readers that Simeon was empowered by the Holy Spirit – who dwelt with him, instructed him, and led him to Jesus. Similarly, Jesus came for Israel’s comfort as God’s anointed and as salvation to all the people. The repetition of the Holy Spirit and salvation (with three different words) illustrated how Simeon knew God had come to deliver his people through that baby boy. His faith allowed him to see a child and conclude that God had come to deliver them. He was ready to die, not wait until he saw salvation!

Simeon had wonderful news for the Israelites – comfort or consolation had come for the people. They took God’s silence for centuries as God abandoned them, not hearing their pleas. Simeon assured them that God hadn’t refused to console them; instead, he had sent his anointed one (the Messiah) to bring them comfort/consolation. That child brought “glory” to the people of Israel. The messiah forever would be a Hebrew, an Israelite.

The anointed one’s coming also had a universal blessing: He was/is a light to enlighten the nations. God’s promise to Abraham – “all the nations will be blessed in you” – was fulfilled in him. He would be a lighthouse, shining in the darkness and guiding people to safety.

Even now, the Holy Spirit drives people to see Jesus as the consolation, anointed, and salvation of all people. Without his direction, our sharing of the good news goes void and empty.